earlapvaldez's review
4.0
Oops, I got the wrong title from my previous (not-really) review. That being said, it's worth making this proper:
I think it's a good idea for a movie. Better than that Batman vs. Superman thing.
I think it's a good idea for a movie. Better than that Batman vs. Superman thing.
morebedsidebooks's review
sad
4.0
Batman & Demon: A Tragedy set in a gothic-like Gotham this is a horror/fantasy story where Bruce Wayne is stricken by ever more terrifying nightmares, taking a physical and psychological toll, and the bloodthirsty Bat-Demon called Etrigan. The comic casts several other familiar characters Glenda Mark, Alfred, James Gordon, Killer Croc, Catwoman and another of my faves Poison Ivy. Here Ivy is a knowledgeable herbalist and healer trying to assist Bruce in curing his nightmares.
A particular attraction is the lush art standing out and drawing you into the whole world. So much every time you pick up the comic the pages almost feel like a new experience because you can never take in all they offer each time. But uh, mind the title. As tragedies are the storyline is all really depressing. Bruce Wayne in many an iteration is this character so formed by his past and unable to come to terms with death. This causes seemingly endless consequences leading me to usually be quite critical of Bruce/Batman. Yet, I feel very sorry for this Bruce. And poor Alfred, just read the comic for the story on him. As well as others who clash with the Bat-Demon. Poor Ivy helping Bruce leading to her murdered again! Though the comic has a bit of dark humour too so it’s not all despair. (In addition, the Bat-Demon always talks in rhymes which is sort of amusing.)
Igniting emotions is arguably an important point to the story. Batman & Demon: A Tragedy may be inquiring about cultivating our humanity if one thinks on the line which closes the comic. It’s a partial quote of the first sentence from an essay written in 1711 by Joseph Addison in the Spectator on a discourse about philosophers, dramatists and tragedies in Western literature. The first paragraph of the essay reads:
A particular attraction is the lush art standing out and drawing you into the whole world. So much every time you pick up the comic the pages almost feel like a new experience because you can never take in all they offer each time. But uh, mind the title. As tragedies are the storyline is all really depressing. Bruce Wayne in many an iteration is this character so formed by his past and unable to come to terms with death. This causes seemingly endless consequences leading me to usually be quite critical of Bruce/Batman. Yet, I feel very sorry for this Bruce. And poor Alfred, just read the comic for the story on him. As well as others who clash with the Bat-Demon. Poor Ivy helping Bruce leading to
Spoiler
Igniting emotions is arguably an important point to the story. Batman & Demon: A Tragedy may be inquiring about cultivating our humanity if one thinks on the line which closes the comic. It’s a partial quote of the first sentence from an essay written in 1711 by Joseph Addison in the Spectator on a discourse about philosophers, dramatists and tragedies in Western literature. The first paragraph of the essay reads:
“As a perfect tragedy is the noblest production of human nature, so it is capable of giving the mind one of the most delightful and most improving entertainments. ‘A virtuous man,’ says Seneca, ‘struggling with misfortunes is such a spectacle as gods might look upon with pleasure.’ And such a pleasure it is which one meets with in the representation of a well-written tragedy. Diversions of this kind wear out of our thoughts everything that is mean and little. They cherish and cultivate that humanity which is the ornament of our nature. They soften insolence, soothe affliction, and subdue the mind to the dispensations of Providence.”
I very much enjoy Elseworlds tales, and well I’ll admit sometimes I like a good tragedy too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
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